James d



(Model) J.D.R0 YSE. MACHINE FOR BREAKING HEMP, 6w.

Patented-Oct. 18

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. ROYSE, OF COLUMBIA, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR BREAKING HEMP, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,351, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed July 1, 1881.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES D. RoYsE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Adair and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Breaking Hemp and other Fibrous Substances; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines used for breaking hemp-stalks, and other fibrous substances.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of my machine, showing two of the brakes in operative connection. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross-section. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective.

A master-wheel, a, is provided with cogs on the under side, working into and driving a pinion, 1), upon a shaft, 0. This shaft forms the axle of a drum, d, and bears upon it a pinion, 0, (shown more clearlyin Fig. 3,) working into another piiiion, e, by means of which a second drum is revolved. These drums are provided with spursf, which, in the revolution of the drums, bear upon and depress the levers g, to which the brakes h h are attached.

The movable brakes or swords are affixed to an axle, t, mounted upon a bench or frame, It. This back bench, 70, supports one end of the stationary sword I, the other end being supported by the front bench, m. The ends of these swords, both movable and stationary, are wider apart at the back than at the front.

The points of the upper or movable swords are fixed in the breaker-block n, which falls squarely upon the front bench, m.

The axlez' is provided with a spiral spring, 0, which may be adjusted by means of the nut and screw 19, (shown in Fig. 4,) so as to regulate the force of the blow of the descending swords.

In operation, by the revolution of the drum,

(ModeL) weight of the breaker-block and the force of the spiral spring, upon the hem p-stalks placed upon the stationary swords, and thus break or mash the stalk from which the tow is to be separated.

The lever g is attached to the axle c by a pivot, s, and is provided with a thumb-piece, t, by means of which its end can be shifted from the spurs of the drum wheneverit is desired to suspend its operation. The thumbscrew and slot a serve to fix it firmly when the brakes are in continued motion. I also construct the lever with forked ends, as shown at o, and the drum-wheel being provided with spurs set closer or in a smaller circle than those on the other side, greater speed can be obtained. One leg of the fork will be detached, when in motion, from the spurs on its own side of the wheel by means of the thumb-piece t and screw and slot at.

In the drawings I have shown two brakes attached to a horse-power; but any other motor may be used. The number of brakes can be increased according to the power applied. I have shown, also, a wider back bench, to, for one of the brakes, by which a much greater leverage is gained over the ordinary brake.

I claim as of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The lever g, provided with thumb-piece t and screw and slot a, and the axle of a hempbrake, in combination with the drums and mechanism for operating the same, substantially as shown and specified, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The spiral springo, its adjusting devices,

'and the axle of a hemp-brake, in combination with thelevers and drums, and mechanism for operating the same, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes indicated.

3. The forked lever o, provided with thumbscrew and slot, and the shaft 13 ofa hemp-brake, in combination with the revolving drum having a double set of spurs, and mechanism for operating the same, substantially as set forth and shown, and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. ROYSE. Witnesses:

J. R. HINDMAN, N. H. PUTNAM. 

